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Isthmian League round-up: Folkestone beat leaders, Margate win, Chatham close in on Ramsgate, Faversham move off bottom spot
19:34, 04 March 2023
updated: 19:34, 04 March 2023
In-form Folkestone Invicta made it four wins in a row on Saturday as they close in on securing an Isthmian Premier play-off place.
Invicta are up to sixth after beating leaders Bishop’s Stortford 3-0 at Cheriton Road in front of a bumper crowd of 834.
Ira Jackson scored twice, the first from the penalty spot just before half-time, with Louis Collins adding a third late on – his second goal since joining on loan from Tonbridge.
Cray Wanderers claimed their first win in four matches thanks to substitute David Ijaha’s 90th-minute winner at Bowers.
The hosts led through Brandon Vale-Aviero after three minutes, Tom Derry equalising on 18 minutes for Neil Smith’s men.
Margate eased any relegation worries with a 2-0 home win over struggling Corinthian-Casuals at Hartsdown Park.
Ruben Spares-Junior’s first goal for the club with 22 minutes left was added to by Sam Blackman in the last minute after Ben Greenhalgh’s free-kick came back off the bar, while the visitors finished with 10 men after Simbarashe Kudyiwa collected two yellow cards.
Herne Bay are 11 points adrift of safety with just 10 games left to play after goals in either half from Michael Chambers and Bradley Stevenson against his former club helped Billericay to a 2-0 home win. Rory Smith had hit the post for the visitors early on.
Chatham moved to within two points of Isthmian South East leaders Ramsgate following a 3-1 win at relegation-threatened VCD.
Jack Evans’ early opener for Chats was cancelled out by Jordan Greaves but Callum Peck restored the visitors’ advantage. Dan Bradshaw added a third early in the second half.
Ramsgate dropped two points after being held to a 1-1 draw at Lancing, who took an early lead through Ashley Mutongerwa. Jack Paxman levelled just before half-time for Jamie Coyle’s side.
Ashford made it three wins out of four, and seven games without defeat, as they won 2-0 at Three Bridges.
Both sides finished game with 10 men, on-loan Dartford midfielder Cameron Brodie seeing red for Ashford.
Goals from Johan Ter Horst and Gary Lockyer moved the Nuts and Bolts to within a point of Sevenoaks in the final play-off place.
Sheppey also made up ground thanks to a 4-1 home win over East Grinstead.
Warren Mfula’s first-half penalty was cancelled out early in the second half by Samuel Williams.
But Mamadou Diallo put the Ites ahead again and substitute Bradley Schafer scored twice late on to wrap up the points.
There were goalless draws for Hythe at Beckenham and Sevenoaks at Corinthian and Sittingbourne at home to Cray Valley.
The point was not enough to keep Corinthian off bottom spot as Faversham picked up a second successive home win. Michael Ademiluyi’s 20th-minute goal was the difference against Chichester for Sammy Moore’s men. They have eight games left and are 10 points from safety,
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